Undergraduate Expenses and Financial Resources

Expenses

In determining the cost of attending UCSC each quarter, students should consider both required fees and personal expenses. The figures below are provided to help you draw up a realistic personal budget. If you then conclude that you will need financial assistance in order to attend UCSC, you should read the Financial Aid section below. Fees and additional financial information for graduate students appear in the Fees and Expenses section. Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change without notice by the UC Regents. For the most current fee information, check reg.ucsc.edu.

Required Fees

Required fees are due and payable before the start of each quarter. At the beginning of each quarter, you will need sufficient funds to cover housing charges and book costs. For many financial aid recipients, however, fees and on-campus housing charges are paid automatically from approved student aid funds. If you are a financial aid recipient, please note that checks and direct deposits for scholarships, grants, and loans in excess of university charges are not available to you until after registration and enrollment each quarter. If you do not pay your required registration fees in full by the announced deadline, your classes for the upcoming quarter will be dropped. You must pay required fees and relevant late fees in full before you may re-enroll for classes for that quarter.

The University Registration Fee supports student services that provide a supportive and enriching learning environment and that are complementary to, but not part of, the instructional program. Programs include, but are not limited to, services related to the physical and psychological health and well-being of students; social and cultural activities and programs; services related to campus life; and educational and career support.

The Educational Fee helps support student financial aid and related programs; admissions; registration; administration; libraries; operation and maintenance of plant; the university’s operating budget; and all costs related to instruction, including faculty salaries.

Santa Cruz campus fees help support a wide range of student services, including college and campuswide student government, extracurricular programs and recreation facilities, campus child care, community and public service projects, Educational Opportunity Programs and scholarships, and free-fare use of the local transit systems. Campus fees paid by graduate students are provided in the Fees and Expenses section.

In addition, all students, including foreign students, are assessed a mandatory Health Insurance Premium. The Cowell Student Health Center provides the primary care services for the plan while a contracted insurance company provides major medical and hospitalization insurance. There is an annual deductible, with most expenses covered at 80 percent of the customary and usual charge. Coverage includes, but is not limited to, hospital stays; surgical services; physician visits; emergency treatment; outpatient care; and pregnancy. Dependent coverage is also available. Detailed information is on the web at www2.ucsc.edu/healthcenter/billing/insurance.shtml or contact the Student Health Insurance Office, (831) 459-2389.

Waivers from the mandatory health insurance premium are available if you can show that your private insurance provides coverage equal to or better than the student health insurance plan. Deadlines for applying for a waiver are listed in the Schedule of Classes (reg.ucsc.edu/soc).

Some courses charge an additional Course Materials Fee. These fees recover the cost of materials, supplies, equipment, and support services not covered by the normal instructional budget. The fees are reviewed and approved annually by the Miscellaneous and Course Materials Fee Advisory Committee. The list of specific courses charging fees in 2004–05 is available in the quarterly Schedule of Classes and on the web at http://reg.ucsc.edu/Fees/coursefees.html.

Nonresident Tuition

If you are a resident of a state other than California or of another country, you must pay nonresident tuition, the nonresident educational fee, and other required fees (university registration and Santa Cruz campus fees). The criteria for residency appear in Appendix A.

Non–U.S. citizens note: Regardless of how long you live in California, only U.S. citizens and holders of immigrant visas may become qualified for resident classification.

Late Fees

You may be assessed late fees if you fail to make university payments or enroll by the specified deadlines. For example, late fees are assessed on a graduated basis for each month there is an unpaid balance on your university account, and at $50 each for a late registration payment and/or late enrollment and $25 for a late housing payment. Deadlines are published in The Navigator (the undergraduate campus handbook) and the Schedule of Classes, both online at reg.ucsc.edu, and they appear on the Statement of Account.

Estimated Personal Expenses

The figures given for estimated personal expenses are for a single undergraduate living on campus. Expenses will be higher for married students, students with children, and graduate students. The information is as current and realistic as possible; however, expenses for students vary in accordance with lifestyles, priorities, and obligations.

Room and board (in college residences). Rates for room and board in the college residence halls are expected to range from about $8,109 to $11,274 per year, depending on the type of accommodation and meal plan. The room and board amount of $10,947 in the Undergraduate Budget table is based on the weighted average of on-campus contracts and includes an allowance for additional meals and phone service. Although anticipated rates for college apartments are considerably less— from about $5,736 to $8,508—expenses are comparable once food costs are added; students in college apartments can expect to spend approximately $3,266 for food and phone service.

Rates are paid quarterly. The rate ranges listed above do not cover periods of academic recess, nor does the Undergraduate Budget table. Housing charges are normally payable at the beginning of each quarter. However, students may arrange with the Campus Housing Office to pay monthly.

More detailed information on room and board expenses for the individual colleges appears in a brochure distributed as part of the admission process or available from the Campus Housing Office, 104 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2394.

Miscellaneous. This budget item covers a broad range of expenses including clothing, laundry, personal grooming, recreation, and health maintenance. It also covers minimum expenses for modest travel to visit family.

Fee Refunds

Students who cancel their registration before the first day of instruction in a given quarter are refunded all required fees minus a $10 service charge. New undergraduate students who cancel their registration before the first day of instruction are entitled to a refund of all required fees except the nonrefundable $100 undergraduate acceptance of admission fee (applied toward the university registration fee).

Once the quarter has begun, students must petition for withdrawal. The percentage of fees refunded is determined by the effective date of the withdrawal, according to the schedule at the left, in which day 1 is the first day of instruction. A student is not eligible for university services after the effective date of withdrawal.

A student entering the armed forces before the sixth week of the quarter is entitled to a full refund of the university registration fee—provided no course credit is received.

More detailed information on withdrawal and refund procedures is included in the quarterly Schedule of Classes and The Navigator, both online at reg.ucsc.edu, and in the Graduate Student Handbook (graddiv.ucsc.edu). Information on refunds of room and board charges is contained in the campus housing contract, provided to all applicants for on-campus housing. For more information on how withdrawing affects your financial aid, refer to Your Complete Guide to Financial Aid (www2.ucsc.edu/fin-aid/) or contact the Financial Aid Office.

Deferred Payment Plan

The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) provides an alternative method of budgeting and paying registration fees. It allows these fees, to the extent not covered by scholarships, loans, or other financial aid, to be paid in monthly installments. Students have a choice of applying for a three-month plan for individual quarterly fees, or, at the beginning of the fall quarter only, for a nine-month plan to be used for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. A nonrefundable application fee of $25 for the three-month plan, or $60 for the nine-month plan, is required. Any student in good financial and academic standing may apply for DPP. Students receiving financial aid sufficient to cover registration fees in full are not eligible for this plan. For more information about how to apply for DPP, application deadlines, and campus policies regarding the program, contact the Office of Student Business Services, 203 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2519, e-mail oarinfo@ucsc.edu, or visit the web site at www2.ucsc.edu/accts-rec.

Financial Aid

For undergraduate students who require financial assistance, the university maintains a broad-based financial aid program of grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment. Administered by the Financial Aid Office, these resources help bridge the gap between the cost of education and what parents and students can reasonably contribute.

If you are a dependent student, the amount of the contribution expected from you and your parents is determined through a careful analysis of your family’s financial strength, considering such variables as net income, number of dependents, allowable expenses, indebtedness, and assets (excluding the home you live in). Nationally established procedures and campus policies are used in the evaluation. The same policies apply to married and independent students.

Application Deadlines

Financial aid applications may be filed beginning on January 1 preceding the academic year in which you wish to enroll. The deadline for applications is March 2. If you are an entering or continuing student seeking financial assistance for fall, winter, or spring enrollment, you must file a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA no later than March 2 preceding the academic year for which you are requesting aid. The FAFSA is available in high school guidance and college financial aid offices throughout the country. Applications are also available on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

A Renewal FAFSA will be generated each year for most prior-year aid applicants. This will be available by January prior to the next academic year. If a Renewal FAFSA is not generated for you, you will need to submit the FAFSA either on paper or via the web. Prior-year financial aid applicants can use their PINs to access and sign their Renewal FAFSAs on the web. The Central Processing System will automatically send PIN mailers instead of paper Renewal FAFSAs to eligible applicants who are graduate students or who used the Internet to submit a FAFSA or make corrections. A paper version of the Renewal FAFSA will be mailed to other students.

In many cases, the Financial Aid Office will need additional information from the applicant. These applicants will be sent instructions specifying the required documents (e.g., copies of student and parent tax returns). The deadline for these supporting documents is May 1.

Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed until those received on time have been processed. Late applicants will be considered on a funds-available basis.

The admission notification date is the financial aid application deadline for students seeking to transfer to UCSC during the winter or spring quarter of the following academic year. The supporting documents must be submitted within three weeks of the date they are requested.

Freshman applications will be processed first, and every effort will be made to provide freshmen with an aid offer by May 1. The earlier the FAFSA is submitted after January 1, the earlier you will receive an offer. All other applicants will be notified as applications are processed after that date. If you are applying for winter or spring quarter, you will receive notification of your award as soon as possible after you are admitted and your aid application file is complete.

Types of Aid

If you apply for financial aid and you meet the deadlines outlined above, you are considered for all the types of assistance described below. Depending upon the funds available and your financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work opportunities.

Grants
The following grants are available to undergraduates. Students must submit the FAFSA by March 2 for the following academic year.

The Cal Grant A program, open only to California residents, is expected to provide a maximum award of $5,684 in 2004–05 to help offset mandatory registration fees for the academic year. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement and financial need.

The Cal Grant B program, designed for California students from low-income families, will provide an annual living stipend of $1,551 to all eligible freshman students in 2004–05. In 2004–05, to help offset mandatory registration fees and aid with annual living expenses, this grant is expected to provide $7,235 to students at the sophomore level and above.

All California residents seeking financial aid must apply for a Cal Grant by submitting a FAFSA by March 2 and listing a four-year California college in the information-release section of the FAFSA. New applicants for the Cal Grant must also file a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2.

Federal Pell Grants are expected to provide a maximum of $4,050 during 2004–05.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available to students with substantial financial need. The grants range from $100 to $4,000.

University Grants are designed for students with substantial financial need. Funds for this grant program come in part from the educational fees paid quarterly by students at all campuses of the university. The average grant in 2003–04 was $4,337.

Scholarships
A variety of scholarships, ranging from $250 per year to an amount that covers full financial need, are available to undergraduates. Funding comes from many sources—private donors, corporations, professional associations, alumni, and the university itself.

The amount of the scholarship award is generally based on the student’s demonstrated financial need. In cases where the student’s established financial need exceeds the amount of the scholarship, the award may be supplemented by other types of financial aid.

Merit scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of high academic achievement and potential. Other scholarships are restricted to students from particular geographic areas or family backgrounds or are limited to students in particular majors, classes, or colleges. The donors have different reasons for giving, and their varied interests are reflected in the wide range of scholarships available. Merit and restricted scholarship awards range up to $2,000 and are for one year. Students must reapply for these scholarships each year.

Regents Scholarships are awarded for periods of four years to entering freshmen and for periods of two years to continuing or transfer students beginning their junior year at the university. These awards are based on academic achievement and promise, irrespective of financial need. New recipients of Regents Scholarships receive either an honorarium of $3,000, for students with no calculated financial need, or a stipend that pays full in-state financial need as calculated by the Financial Aid Office.

For the academic year beginning each fall quarter, new freshmen and transfer students apply for scholarships by filing the Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships during the November 1–30 filing period. Continuing students file an undergraduate scholarship application by February 1. Late applications are not considered.

Need-Based Loans
Student loan funds are administered by UC in accordance with the regulations of the federal government and the Regents. There is no interest on need-based student loans as long as the student is enrolled in college at least half-time. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a degree program and demonstrate financial need. To apply for these loans, students must submit the FAFSA.

Through the Federal Perkins Loan Program, students may borrow up to $20,000 for undergraduate study and up to $40,000 for undergraduate and graduate study combined. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or withdrawal from higher education. The interest rate is 5 percent per year.

The University Loan Program provides long-term loans from UC funds. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal from higher education; the interest rate is 5 percent per year.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans are administered by the UCSC Financial Aid Office. Students must demonstrate financial need, and annual limits are $2,625 for first-year students, $3,500 for second-year students, and $5,500 for all other undergraduates. The annual limit for graduate students is $8,500. Students may borrow up to $23,000 for undergraduate study and up to $65,500 for undergraduate and graduate study combined. Students pay an origination fee and an insurance premium totaling 3 percent less a 1.5 percent upfront interest rebate, which is deducted from the loan amount. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal from higher education. The interest rate—variable for new borrowers— is based on the 91-day T-bill plus the following additions: 1.7 percent during in-school grace and deferment periods and 2.3 percent during repayment. Interest is capped at 8.25 percent. (The interest rate in 2003–04 for students in repayment was 3.42 percent.)

Non-Need-Based Loans
William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans are administered by the Financial Aid Office. These loans are available to students who do not qualify for the subsidized loans (above), and students must first be determined ineligible for a Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan. Interest is charged on unsubsidized loans from the date the loan is made. The interest rate—established by Congress every July 1—is variable and is the same as for Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans. The cap is 8.25 percent. (The interest rate for 2003–04 was 3.42 percent.)

The borrower must pay an origination fee and insurance premium totaling 3 percent less a 1.5 percent upfront interest rebate, which is deducted from the amount of the loan. Eligibility is calculated by subtracting any financial assistance awarded the student from the cost of education as defined by the Financial Aid Office (see the Undergraduate Budget table). Loan limits for dependent students are the same as for the Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans. Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans are added together for students who have both types to determine if the limit has been reached.

Independent students have higher combined Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loan limits than do dependent students. The annual limits for independent students are as follows: $6,625 for first-year students; $7,500 for second-year students; $10,500 for other undergraduates; and $18,500 for graduate students. Students may borrow up to $46,000 for undergraduate study and $138,500 for undergraduate and graduate study combined.

Students may begin repaying principal and interest on Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans immediately, pay only interest immediately, or defer both principal and interest until they are no longer enrolled in school at least half-time.

Through Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, parents may borrow up to the full cost of education as defined by the UCSC Financial Aid Office, less any financial assistance the student receives. Parents must demonstrate creditworthiness for loan approval. Borrowers pay an origination fee and insurance premium totaling 4 percent less a 1.5 percent upfront interest rebate, which is deducted from the loan amount. Loan payments begin 60 days after the last disbursement. The interest rate is variable and based on the 91-day T-bill auctioned just prior to June 1 each year plus 3.1 percent, with a cap of 9 percent. (The interest rate for 2003–04 was 4.22 percent.)

Other loans. The UCSC Financial Aid Office can provide information about other privately sponsored education loans upon request.

Work-Study Program
Employment through the work-study program is offered to eligible financial aid applicants and is available during the academic year (late September through early June). Students are hired for part-time employment at prevailing rates, with federal funds paying part of the wages and the employer paying the balance. Students may apply for a variety of jobs on campus or with approved nonprofit organizations off campus.

Job postings are announced initially at the Work-Study Orientation held on the first Sunday of fall quarter. All work-study jobs for 2004–05 are posted on the web beginning September 19, 2004, and students must apply online. For job listings, application process, and more information on the Career Center, visit our web site: www2.ucsc.edu/careers. (Check the web in September 2005 for 2005–06 jobs.)

Further Information

For more information about applying for financial aid, deadlines for filing applications and supporting documents, and campus policy regarding refunds of overpayments, contact the Financial Aid Office, 201 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2963, e-mail fin_aid@ucsc.edu, or visit www2.ucsc.edu/fin-aid/.

Veteran Services

The Veteran Services staff act as a liaison between students and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes certifying attendance for veterans, veterans’ dependents, and reservists and processing various government forms. In addition, the office processes letters of authorization for the California Department of Veterans Affairs’ college fee-waiver program for children of veterans who have service-connected disabilities or who have died from service- related causes. Students who are California residents apply for the college fee-waiver program through their home county Veterans Affairs Office.

Students who are veterans or veterans’ dependents should contact Veteran Services as soon as they receive notification of admission to UC Santa Cruz to ensure quick and efficient processing of their benefit claims. Dependents must provide the office with the VA claim number and Social Security number of the veteran spouse or parent.

Veteran Services staff are located at 190 Hahn Student Services Building. An appointment may be arranged by calling (831) 459- 1358 or by e-mail at registrar@ucsc.edu.